Plant Manager

Company Profile: A leading manufacturer of flexible plain and printed film, supplying primarily the food sector, are looking to recruit a Plant Manager to join their team.

Location: Lancashire

Purpose of job: To manage directly, through the leadership team, Production Areas, Supply Chain Operations, Engineering / Continuous Improvement & Product Quality. To ensure the Site achieves the Site Operational Plan and is effective and efficient with regards to labour, material usages and other budgetary cost constraints.

Key Responsibilities:

• To manage and develop the performance of the Leadership team so that they take full responsibility for the performance of their areas.
• Manage the plant functions & operational activities to meet performance objectives in the annual budget, cost improvement, HSE, Process safety, reliability, availability, productivity quality, delivery, and regularity compliance.
• Implement plant strategies in alignment with global operations & strategic initiatives and provide a clear sense of direction and focus to achieve key objectives.
• To investigate performance and efficiency variation and to implement corrective actions as appropriate.
• To enthusiastically drive the Sites Continuous Improvement programme, identifying opportunities, using employee skills and knowledge to improve performance and to develop an on-going CI culture in line with the Company’s performance systems.
• To continually improve the culture and attitudes towards Health & Safety, ensuring compliance with Health & Safety requirements and to hold people accountable for their own actions and behaviours.
• To improve Housekeeping and machine cleanliness in the factory and maintain the highest standards – 5S / Lean.
• To oversee the quality performance of the equipment, ensuring that quality procedures are adhered to and promoting quality ownership.
• Maintain discipline and compliance with company policies and procedures.
• Implement Visual Management to improve communication and understanding of Site performance.
• Ensure that SIOP process is delivered and then embedded over time.
• Ensure that daily Lean Tier 2 & 4 Meetings take place and are effectively driving action.
• Ensure all PDRs are conducted in a timely manner & link in with site / business succession planning.
• Collaborate with the trading and e-commerce arm of the business and be instrumental in the buy versus make decision across the business.
• Thorough comprehension of site financial performance is key.

Strategic Input and Business Improvement:

• Support group change initiatives, leading by example.
• Support strategic development of the business, identifying opportunities through effective use of data.

Lead / Direct Reports:

• Direct, develop, drive and empower team.
• Manage training and development plans to feed effective succession planning, evaluating performance through the appraisal process.
• Ensure all company policies and procedures are adhered to (attendance, holidays etc.).

Effective Management:

• Constantly review standards and working practices to achieve and exceed targets.
• Pre-empt issues through effective communication.
• Effective delegation to add value and encourage development.

Relationship Management (Internal and External):

• Build strong working relationships with, and form an integral part of, the management team.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with all internal and external contacts.

Demonstrate Technical Knowledge:

• Knowledge of converting & supply chain.
• Professionally trained in management disciplines and understanding of modern tools and techniques.
• Strategic approach with strong problem solving and analytical skills.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma.
• Change Management experience.
• Strong awareness of current SHE and employment legislation.

Reporting:

• Timely and accurate distribution of all daily, weekly and monthly reports.

Skills & Competences:

• Ability to communicate effectively on all levels.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Sense of urgency – demonstrable energy and drive.
• People Development Ability.
• Ability to prioritise own work and work of others to meet deadlines and achieve targets in a fast-paced dynamic environment.
• Commercially aware with strong influencing skills.
• Approachable and flexible – a team player.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proactive, positive, enthusiastic - demonstrates “can do” attitude.
• Leads by example with a strong work ethic, and effective delegation skills.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent (preferable), with a recognised management qualification or substantial manufacturing experience.
• Minimum 5 years in the packaging or allied industry.
• Excellent organisational and analytical skills.
• Computer literate with advanced Excel skills.
• Demonstrated track record of efficiency and profitability improvements.

In addition, you should be able to demonstrate the following behaviours and skills:

• Customer – Centric, Easy to work with and Flexible Customer.
• Sharing information with all relevant parties (internal & external) to improve ways of working to deliver customer satisfaction.
• Demonstrates a collective use of all communications tools/business systems to ensure that the tools in place are being utilised to benefit the business/customer.
• Understands the market we trade in and the arena in which we compete to ensure that we retain a USP.
• Takes an objective view on internal/external situations, and looks for ways to improve the service.

Intensity & Speed:

• Commercially aware of how the role influences the commercial performance of the business.
• Organises workload to ensure that we operate in the most efficient way.
• Ability to meet deadlines under pressure whilst ensuring that we strive for efficiency.
• Ability to follow systems and processes to deliver an efficient result.
• Proactively looks for better ways of doing things.

Empowerment & Accountability:

• Willingness to adapt to business requirements and takes the time to understand business change.
• Expresses spoken and written ideas effectively in individual and group situations.
• Proactive approach and not afraid to make decisions.
• Ability to focus on and achieve personal and team objectives.
• Contributes to the overall purpose of the team and take the times to understand the objectives.
• Demonstrate a good understanding of business purpose and direction.
• Contributes ideas to develop and enhance the offer.
• Not afraid to share knowledge to improve ways of working for all.
• Relishes the challenge of change and encourages others to do the same and explains the benefits of change convincingly to their team, identifies any barriers to change and how to overcome them.

Demonstrates Commitment & passion to succeed:

• Passionate and enthusiastic commitment to shared goals and objectives.
• Dedication and determination to the success of the team, business and client.
• Commitment to training and development and making the team the best they can be.
• Demonstrates has listened through their actions which are visible and understood by others.

Integrity And Fairness Always:

• Trust, appreciation and respect of, and for, team members.
• Also ensuring and promoting equality and fairness, following the company policies regarding Dignity at Work.
• Supporting an open and honest environment for discussion and feedback.
• Understands your and other’s role(s) within the team and company.
• Contributes positively to team identity.
• Builds and maintains team spirit and morale to ensure effective working relationships.
• Encourages the mantra and treats people as they would want to be treated.

Safe Environment for everyone:

• Supports a safe working environment.
• Encourages a greater awareness of safety by ensuring team are trained on safety.
• Actively encourages team members to engage with other departments to assess safety through risk assessment and Area Safety Inspections.
• Balances the workload to ensure that specific areas of workload are addressed.

Salary: up to £86,000, bonus and car / car allowance

Pension: 6% EE / 3% ER

Leave: 25 days + bank holidays

Perks: Medicash, sick pay, enhanced parental leave, EAP, discounts, free parking, canteen, financial advice.